helping individuals find their path

Our Team

WinGate was founded by a team of experienced wilderness therapists and treatment-industry leaders who were dissatisfied with the wilderness therapy programs currently available. Today our team of therapists and caring field staff are the best in the industry and have over 30 years of experience helping individuals find their path to a more fulfilled and purposeful life.

Chris Tarver
Chris Tarver, LCSW

Executive Director

Chris is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in the State of Utah and Louisiana. His career began in 2005 as a Wilderness Field...

Sharon Clegg
Sharon Clegg

Program Director

Sharon Sperry-Clegg is the Program Director for WinGate Wilderness Therapy. Her expertise and knowledge of the industry makes her a...

Erin Grover
Erin Grover, LCSW, MSW, TRS, CTRS, SEP

Clinical Director

Erin Grover has spent the last 18 years helping individuals and families grow and make positive changes. During her 15 years in the...

Scott Hess
Scott Hess, MA, LMFT

Primary Therapist

Scott Hess began his career as a marriage and family therapist in 1996, working with juvenile sex offenders in locked facilities. That...

David Saldaña
David Saldaña, MSW, CSW

Primary Therapist

David Saldaña has been working in the field of therapy and mental health for 22 years, working in both wilderness and residential...

Dale Christensen
Dale Christensen, MD

Medical Director

Dr. Dale Christensen has been practicing emergency medicine for over 15 years and is currently a staff physician at Utah Valley Regional...

Jake Roberts
Jake Roberts, APRN

Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

Jake's formal education consists of an AS Degree from Dixie State University, a BSN Degree from Southern Utah University, and a MSN...

Kyle Tolman
Kyle Tolman

Medical Coordinator

A Utah-native, Kyle has spent his whole life in the wilderness, exploring the desert. If he didn't go exploring with his grandfather,...

Josh Gunalda
Josh Gunalda

Admissions Director

Josh has over 18 years of experience working in wilderness therapy. He began his career leading wilderness expeditions for adjudicated...

Michael Sanders
Michael Sanders

Field Director

Michael Sanders was first introduced to wilderness therapy and the power of natural medicine when his sister was enrolled as a student in...

Chelsy Stewart
Chelsy Stewart

Office Manager

Chelsy originally started with WinGate in August 2016, working as an office assistant to our field director and clinical director. She...

Hayle Clark
Hayle Clark

Administrative Assistant

I was born and raised in Kanab, UT. I grew up not really appreciating the blessing it was to have everyone know who I was and what I was...